Staff counselling

• What type of Service is provided?
• Who is eligible?
• Is it confidential?
• What types of problem?
• How much help is available?
• Is help available from others?
• Is there specific support for Health and Safety at work?
• Is telephone advice available?
• How do I choose a Counsellor?
• Need a routine appointment?
• Emergency? Urgent need?
• Disability?
• Other support for staff?
• Feedback?

What type of Service is provided?

The University of Reading Counselling Service has provided counselling for both students and staff for over 25 years. The staff counselling service is a fully integrated occupational counselling service working closely with the Personnel and Occupational Health departments when required.

Staff who wish to consult the Counselling Service will be required to pay for a consultation or treatment at a rate of £50 per hour (or part thereof). Any funds collected are invested in the employment of sessional staff; thus ensuring that services for students are protected.

Who is eligible?

The University Counselling Service is available for a modest charge of £50 per hour at point of delivery to every full and part time member of the University staff including Student Union staff. It is not available to those who have retired, and nor is it normally available to family members of staff. Staff of non-university institutions based on campus may also use the service providing the contract between university and associated institution permits use of such campus facilities, but the full market rate will be charged.

Is it confidential?

Yes. A reference copy of the detailed 'Code of Ethics and Practice' to which the Service works is displayed on notice boards. A leaflet Confidentiality and Data Protection (PDF - 221KB) is freely available from reception and goes into considerable detail on these topics. Staff may choose between (a) Complete confidentiality, where information about the staff member will not normally be disclosed to anyone unless a 'Consent to Disclose' form is signed, and (b) Being seen purely with a view to assessment of problems in order that a report may be made to a Head of School, Personnel, Medical Adviser, etc. These people are then in a better position to facilitate the most appropriate working arrangements, or phased return to work for the member of staff. Ongoing liaison with GP, Occupational Health, and Personnel while counselling continues will often be very much in the client's interest.

What types of problem?

The Counselling Service aims to provide a high quality professional service to members of the University community who experience emotional, psychological, behavioural, educational or practical problems which inhibit their performance at work. The major problems which staff present with are stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and alcohol misuse. All of them may impact on motivation, concentration, memory, confidence, and the safety of both self and others. User feedback indicates that the most valued function of the service has been clarification of the nature of problems, followed by assistance with developing strategies and tactics to alleviate them and then support in implementation.

How much help is available?

The Service provides short-term counselling. It does not provide long term therapy. The primary objective is to keep staff working productively, or to get them back to work again as quickly as possible. To this end we are keen to prevent problems developing to the point where work is affected and encourage staff to seek help at the earliest signs of trouble. Even chronic problems can sometimes be sorted out quickly, but where we instead suggest referral on, our provision of rapid assessment and recommendation on treatment of choice can often be useful. In addition, the service can usually provide bridging support should staff have to await external help.

Is help available from others?

Yes. Members of staff can avail themselves of various levels of support in the University, common sense being a guide as to which may be most appropriate in the circumstances. It is important to let a Line Manager know of problems such as bullying, harassment, discrimination, and stress. If the line manager is the cause of the problem, unable to help, or unwilling to help, consider consulting the manager next in line - the line of responsibility often being Supervisor, Section Head, Head of School, Head of Faculty or Division, Vice-Chancellor. Emotionally charged problems have an uncanny knack of ensuring even the most balanced of us rapidly lose perspective so it will often help to talk things through with a counsellor or a personnel officer to clarify the nature of the problem and the options available before formally asking for action from a line manager. There are many situations where a problem 'label' is unhelpful - for example, the extent to which a line manager is 'bullying' or exerting 'legitimate firm management', or being 'an energetic new broom'. In such situations a consultation with both Personnel and Counselling would not come amiss. Also consider consulting Dr Neil Sammon, the University Equal Opportunities Officer (Registrars Dept.). He has extensive experience in such matters. He can provide contact with University appointed informal harassment advisers in each Faculty (as can the Registrar's Secretary).

Is there specific support for Health and Safety at work?

• Stress Management workshops
  Please see the Centre for Staff Training and Development Programme.
• Individual assessment for those who are stressed, anxious, or depressed.
• Advice and support for individual Managers seeking to prevent or manage staff problems such as persistent absenteeism, inability to work, phased return to work, and early retirement on grounds of psychological ill health etc. We will liaise closely with the Personnel and Occupational Health departments as required.
• Assessment and treatment of alcohol problems and other problematic coping methods.
• Support for staff disability and special needs including dyslexia assessments and mental health discrimination issues.
• Traumatic incident support designed to prevent the subsequent development of post traumatic stress disorders.
• Mediation: facilitation for those having difficulty with or unable to get along with others at work. We are equally happy to do this for a pair of colleagues or a small group. Prevention is always better than cure.
• Confidential consultation upon any issue where it may be helpful to reflect upon and clarify feelings and options with someone who has no investment in the matter.

Is telephone advice available?

Yes. The duty counsellor will often respond immediately, but always the same day, to all requests for consultation and advice. The Service is particularly concerned to provide support to Tutors and Heads of Schools struggling to deal with 'difficult' students and 'difficult' situations. The Service regards consultation and advice which may prevent staff worry and stress as at least as important as 'curing' stress!

How do I choose a Counsellor?

Staff can see the first counsellor available, select male or female, or choose a specific counsellor for expertise. On the website can be found counsellor names, and professional details. However, even though the counsellors are all qualified psychologists, psychotherapists, or counsellors, probably the most important thing is whether you get along or not. If you feel uncomfortable with a counsellor, say so, and discuss changing to someone else. Should one be concerned, a call to the Duty Counsellor can clarify which counsellor has most expertise for specific problems.

Need a routine appointment?

Make clear to the secretary/receptionist you are a member of staff. (Not all counsellors see staff.) Appointments are offered on a 'first come first served' basis. The average wait for a first appointment is less than a week, but depending on the time of year one may find no wait, or a slightly longer wait. Our target for even the busiest periods (November and February) is a maximum wait of 14 working days. The wait to see a particular counsellor (many are part-time) will usually be longer than the wait to see the first available counsellor.

Emergency? Urgent Need?

In an emergency, or if in urgent need, or if you feel so distressed you cannot wait for a routine appointment, ask for an appointment with the Duty Counsellor. Provided you make your need known by 1.00 pm (within term time) we guarantee you will be seen the same day. Outside of term time please check for varying arrangements.

Disability?

There are no lifts for wheelchair users at the offices on either site.  Just give us a call before attending and we will arrange to see you on the ground floor. Deaf clients who need a 'signer' only have to let us know of their need and we will make such arrangements through our panel of signers. For those with poor sight basic leaflets are ready printed in large black fonts on non-reflective yellow paper - just ask. Other leaflets are not held in stock this way but can be similarly printed very rapidly on request. Other disability? Just call and we will make whatever arrangements we can to be helpful.

Other support for staff?

You may wish to consider alternative sources of help: Occupational Health, Safety Office, and Trade Union representatives could be consulted. Your GP may be able to suggest and/or refer you for specialist help. The Counselling Service publishes leaflets listing outside resources, and all our leaflets are on the website.

Feedback

We welcome and depend upon feedback - whether compliments, complaints or comments. They help us review our way of working.

If you have a complaint, please discuss it with your counsellor. If, after this, you are still not content, or your complaint is about the Head of Service, please write to the Registrar. Written comments are welcome in the "post-box" at Reception.

How do I contact the Counselling Service ? Call in or phone

First Floor, The Health Centre 9 Northcourt Avenue Reading RG2 7HE - 0118 975 1823

The Health Centre at Northcourt Avenue is almost opposite St. Patrick's Hall. Enter by main door, go straight through reception and up the stairs. Turn right at the top of the stairs and follow the signs to the Counselling Reception. [Reception closed between 1-2 pm for lunch.] Routine appointments are available Monday to Friday between 9am and-5pm A Duty Counsellor is available each day (term time) to deal with urgent "non-routine" difficulties and emergencies.

First Floor, The Health Centre Bulmershe Court Woodlands Avenue Reading RG6 1HY - 0118 378 8658

The Health Centre at Bulmershe fronts Woodlands Avenue. Joint Reception with the Health Centre is on the ground floor on the right as you go in the front door. [Reception closes at 1.30 pm] Routine appointments are available Monday to Friday between 9am and-5pm NB There is no Emergency cover at Bulmershe. If urgent, please contact Northcourt Ave site.

Other ways to contact the Counselling Service:

University Health Centre ( 0118 987 4551
Please ask for Counselling Reception.
TYPETALK ( 0800 515152
National Telephone Relay Service, for the deaf, hard of hearing, people with speech difficulties, restricted vision and limited mobility.